To develop highly efficient molecular photocatalysts for visible light-driven hydrogen production, a thorough understanding of the photophysical and chemical processes in the photocatalyst is of vital importance. In this context, in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopic (XAS) investigations show that the nature of the catalytically active metal center in a (N^N)MCl2 (M=Pd or Pt) coordination sphere has a significant impact on the mechanism of the hydrogen formation. Pd as the catalytic center showed a substantially altered chemical environment and a formation of metal colloids during catalysis, whereas no changes of the coordination sphere were observed for Pt as catalytic center. The high stability of the Pt center was confirmed by chloride addition and mercury poisoning experiments. Thus, for Pt a fundamentally different catalytic mechanism without the involvement of colloids is confirmed.
A molecular photocatalyst consisting of a Ru(II) photocenter, a tetrapyridophenazine bridging ligand, and a PtX2 (X=Cl or I) moiety as the catalytic center functions as a stable system for light-driven hydrogen production. The catalytic activity of this photochemical molecular device (PMD) is significantly enhanced by exchanging the terminal chlorides at the Pt center for iodide ligands. Ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy shows that the intramolecular photophysics are not affected by this change. Additionally, the general catalytic behavior, that is, instant hydrogen formation, a constant turnover frequency, and stability are maintained. Unlike as observed for the Pd analogue, the presence of excess halide does not affect the hydrogen generation capacity of the PMD. The highly improved catalytic efficiency is explained by an increased electron density at the Pt catalytic center, this is confirmed by DFT studies.
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